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HB 2891

WATER COMMISSION-CONSTRUCTION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Terra Costa Howard

HB 2891 expands Illinois water commissions' authority to use design-build delivery and raises the service area radius to 50 miles, boosting regional water delivery capacity.

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Bill Summary · HB 2891

Summary — HB 2891 (Water Commission Act amendments)

Status: House Floor Amendment No. 2 (filed Apr 8, 2025); re‑referred to Rules Committee (Apr 11, 2025)
Introduced: 2025 (Illinois House) — Sponsor: Rep. Terra Costa Howard (primary)
Note: The packet provided contains text from two different HB 2891 bills (an unrelated Arizona telecommunications bill and this Illinois bill). This summary covers the Illinois measure titled in the packet as amendments to the Water Commission Act of 1985 (HB2891).

Purpose / Intent

HB 2891 modernizes and expands the authority of municipal/county water commissions created under the Water Commission Act of 1985. The bill is intended to give commissions greater flexibility to procure and deliver water infrastructure (including alternative project delivery and design‑build contracting), to expand service reach, and to adjust governance/compensation rules.

Key provisions

  • Procurement and project delivery

    • Authorizes water commissions to use alternate project delivery methods, including design‑build contracts and a defined design‑build delivery system.
    • Includes definitions and requirements for the design‑build delivery system (details in added Sections 6–15).
    • Allows commissions to establish goals or requirements relating to procurement of goods/services and construction contracts.

  • Contracts and assignments

    • Permits a water commission to accept assignment of municipal waterworks system contracts or other public improvement contracts.

  • Service area expansion

    • Increases the radius within which a water commission may construct water transmission and distribution lines for furnishing water outside member municipalities' corporate limits from 25 miles to 50 miles.

  • Compensation and governance

    • Revises commissioner compensation limits. Under House Amendment 002 the maximum compensation is reduced to $600 per year (previous statutory cap referenced as $10,000). The amendment keeps the provision that commissioners who are members of a governing board or are officers/employees of the county or local government may not receive compensation for serving as a commissioner.

  • Miscellaneous

    • Makes conforming edits to statutory references (example: replacing references to Department of Transportation with Department of Natural Resources in one amendment).
    • The bill adds multiple new sections (6–15) to the Water Commission Act to implement the above authorities and definitions (full text of those sections not included in packet).

Who is affected

  • Water commissions created under the Water Commission Act of 1985 (and counties/municipalities that are members).
  • Member municipalities and potentially additional entities up to 50 miles away that may contract for water service.
  • Engineering, construction, and design firms (new procurement and design‑build opportunities).
  • Local governments and utilities who may face competition or coordination issues when commissions expand service areas.
  • Commissioners (change in allowable compensation).
  • Residents/customers in expanded service areas (potential for new service availability).

Procedural status & timeline (selected)

  • Introduced in the Illinois House (Feb 6, 2025). Referred to Rules Committee.
  • Assigned to Public Utilities Committee (Mar 4, 2025). Committee “Do Pass” recommendation recorded (Mar 18, 2025).
  • Committee and House amendments filed: House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Mar 18), House Amendments 001 and 002 (Mar 18 and Apr 8); Amendment 002 reduces commissioner compensation to $600/year and modifies a department reference.
  • Public hearing held (Apr 7, 2025); testimony taken; item left pending in committee.
  • House Floor Amendment No. 2 filed Apr 8 and moved/re‑referred to Rules Committee Apr 11, 2025.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Faster project delivery: Allowing design‑build and alternate delivery can accelerate construction and consolidate design/construction responsibility with single contractors, but shifts risk profiles and may affect bidding/competition.
  • Expanded service area (50‑mile radius) can enable regional water supply solutions but may raise jurisdictional and intergovernmental coordination issues with non‑member municipalities and existing local utilities.
  • Procurement goals/requirements could promote local participation or policy objectives but may require updated procurement rules and oversight.
  • Significant reduction in commissioner compensation (from $10,000 cap referenced in current statute to $600 under the amendment) could affect who is willing/able to serve.
  • Fiscal effects depend on the scale of new projects; the bill does not contain specific appropriations in the text provided.

Notes / limitations

  • The packet references added Sections 6–15 but the full text of those sections was not included; the summary is based on the bill synopsis and excerpts provided (including House Amendment 002).
  • Because legislative action is ongoing (amendments filed and re‑referrals to Rules), final language and fiscal/administrative details may change before passage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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